Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Axis Mundi - Tracklisting
1.Static Noise
2.The Valley Of Nowhere
3.Burning Out
4.Sea Of Drowned Souls
5.Swans
6.Full Circle
7.Between Earth And Moon
8.Axis Mundi
Members
Rotten – guitars
Philipp Seiler – guitars & vocals
Marian Waibl – drums
Review
Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers TARLUNG return after a four year absence with Axis Mundi which sees the band develop a thuggish, heavier and progressive style of music compared to their 2021 debut album Architect. With the backing of Italian Powerhouse label Argonauta Records fully behind for this release, TARLUNG have included new areas of music such as Post-Metal, Prog and Psychedelic mystery for a sound that promises high amounts of mysterious Sludgy surroundings. TARLUNG still play their familiar blend of Doom, Thrash, Sludge and Stoner Metal grooves that was contained within Architect but this time round the album has a more violent and free-flowing attitude.
You can hear influences from the likes of HIGH ON FIRE, MASTODON, YOB and WEEDEATER on the album which allows TARLUNG to move away from the GRIME and FILTH ridden worlds they originally made their names with. The opening two tracks of Static Noise and The Valley Of Nowhere is business as usual for the band with bleak sounding passages and those downbeat Groove Metal melodies that’s intertwined with Philipp Seiler’s harsh grunts, gruffs and growls. TARLUNG demonstrates brief glimpses of their new found delivery of SONIC EXPERIMENTATION which comes fully into play within the next track that is perhaps one of the most outstanding tracks on the record.
Third track Burning Out sees TARLUNG settle for a YOB-esque melodic delivery with the music perhaps moving fully closer to the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner environments which you can see influences ranging from ACID KING, KING BUFFALO and UFOMAMMUT developing. However, this new-found uplifting change only lasts for a short period of time as the violent Doom/Sludge Metal undercurrents of the record take centre stage and deliver some of the most exciting sounds on the whole album. However, there are still plenty of surprises to be had on this track and the rest of the album when the Psychedelic Rock and Post-Whatever creative flow suddenly appears.
TARLUNG have weaved a superb record showcasing the different sides of the HARSH and MELLOW sides of the Psychedelic Metal underground scene. Axis Mundi is jam-packed with first rate musical solos that allows Phillip (Guitars) Rotten (Guitars) and Marian (Drums) to show off their superb technical ability and creative vision on the whole record.
The band continue developing their new style of Psychedelic and Progressive heaviness throughout tracks such as Sea Of Drowned Souls, Swans, Full Circle and Axis Mundi being the other highlights of the album. TARLUNG combine brutal vocal passages and an eerie Folk influence into their main storyline of the record which does take a few moments to get used to. However, the THUGGISH and PROGRESSIVE attitude of TARLUNG keeps everything moving along at a great pace that creates a ton of genuinely exciting moments to make themselves more known with.
Axis Mundi is a much better and superbly constructed record compared to their debut album as TARLUNG always allow themselves the perfect time and opportunity to branch out into new areas to destroy the musical landscape with. This has the perfect combination of violent Sludge Metal passages and modern sounding Psychedelic passages with TARLUNG showcasing what a great FUCKING BAND they are in their own right.
TARLUNG have delivered one of the first truly memorable, heaviest and unmissable albums to own this year.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.
Axis Mundi is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records.
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